Video: Bad Blood Between Rachel Maddow and Rand Paul

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., have been exchanging unpleasantries, with Maddow accusing Paul of plagiarizing much of a speech he recently gave, and Paul calling Maddow a "hater" who needs to stop nitpicking, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Paul referenced the movie "Gattaca" during his speech, calling its world one "where DNA plays a primary role in determining your social class," a line that appears to be lifted directly from the Wikipedia page on the film, the story says.

Paul, in an interview with Fusion, said his critics were "making a mountain out of a molehill. … It’s a disagreement about how you footnote things." He added that Maddow has been "spreading hate on me for about three years now."

The Times notes: "Many viewers might shrug — especially Paul’s supporters — but plagiarism can prove a difficult issue for a major politico. During the 1988 presidential campaign, revelations that he had plagiarized a speech by British leader Neil Kinnock helped sink the candidacy of Joe Biden, who eventually recovered and is now vice president in the Obama White House."

A segment from Maddow’s show accusing Paul of plagiarism can be found below. Video of Paul’s response can be viewed by clicking here to go to the L.A. Times story.

One Comment

Madcow really needs to get a life – though no one watches her anyway. “Plagiarizing” something from a movie – unless he specifically said it was his own – is hardly anything to start a conflict about. People quote from movies all the time without reference (You can’t handle the truth, Rachel). Just like a true Democrat – when you have no leg to stand on, attack your opponents character.